A Simple Process to Turn Fear into Power

“You are very powerful, provided you know how powerful you are.” ~Yogi Bhajan

Have you ever stopped to think about your definition of fear?

As my dear friend Mr. Webster states, fear is “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.”

Simply put, I disagree with this definition of fear.

My definition of fear goes something like this….

“An opportunity for self discovery and self growth; a well of untapped personal power and strength; the gateway from wishing and wanting to doing and being.”

Yes, fear can be a drag, and there are certain situations and life-threatening circumstances that stir up a whole slew of fear that I would never wish upon any one.

But there’s another spectrum of fear that comes from within and the culprit is often our very own “monkey mind” and self-worth. Most likely, it’s this very fear that is holding you back from living the wildly successful, abundant, joy-filled life that you crave and oh-so deserve!

I never really thought about fear before, but last year I decided to take the entrepreneurial plunge and it opened a whole new can of worms for me. This is when my relationship with my personal forms of fear took flight.

I was fearful that I wasn’t smart enough to run my own business, my skills and knowledge weren’t as strong as my business partners’ skills, I didn’t have enough experience to prove to potential clients that I know what I’m talking about—and why would someone want to listen to what I have to say?

The list of crazy thoughts and irrational fears that surfaced for me over this past year are endless. And guess what? I now realize that they are not true.

As I typed that last sentence I had a smile of relief cross my face, because I now realize that my fears aren’t me, and they don’t control me anymore.

The truth is, for most of us, fear is present on a regular basis, but the form that it chooses to present itself in is constantly changing. Maybe you experience anxiety, a deep nervousness, confusion, lack of motivation, uncertainty, or something unidentifiable deep within.

Chances are, you’re experiencing fear on a magnitude of levels and in multiple forms all at once. (Fear is sneaky like that! It’s always showing up in disguise to try to trick you!)

Now you might be wondering, “How do I know if I am experiencing fear and what do I do with this feeling, regardless of whether it’s fear or not?”

The answer is simple.

Know that where there’s fear, there’s power. 

Everyone on this planet experiences fear (nope, you’re not alone on this one) but what sets successful (and might I add, happy) people apart from everyone else is their ability to act in the face of fear.

Turning your fear into power might seem unachievable at first, but here’s a simple process I use to pursue my personal passions and visions, despite my fear.

4 Steps To Turning Fear Into Power

Warning: This is powerful, juicy stuff and your life will start changing for the good when you apply these tips!

1. Indulge in self-reflection and positive self-talk.

Next time you feel nervous, anxious, afraid, or uncertain, I challenge you to dig deep and look what’s underneath those feelings.

Are you nervous to apply for that job because you’re afraid of rejection? What if you don’t get the job? Does that mean you’re not good enough and that you’ll never experience the career success you long for?

Of course this isn’t true, but it’s far too common to indulge in harmful self-talk. In most cases, it comes down to thinking that you’re not worthy to experience happiness or success.

Be honest with yourself and identify what’s at the root of your fear.

Now take that negative statement and write an empowering statement that’s the opposite of your limiting belief.

For example, if your limiting belief is “I don’t deserve to experience true success because I haven’t worked hard enough,” flip it and write the reverse:

“I deserve to experience success on my own terms, all while having fun and living in abundance along the way!”

Say this affirmation out loud every morning when you’re getting ready to start your day.

Better yet, look yourself in the mirror and repeat it proudly, 10 times!

Sound cheesy? Yeah, maybe it is a bit cheesy. But it works, and besides, nobody has to know that you talk to yourself in the mirror!

2. Weigh your options. 

Make a pros and cons list of what would happen if:

• You pursued your passions and vision, despite your fear
• You choose to maintain status quo

I’m guessing you’ll realize that there are actually more pros to acting in the face of fear vs. maintaining status quo.

Not as scary as you initially thought, right?

3. Act.

The arrows are pointing in the right direction. Yes, you can act in the face of fear without the whole world crashing down on you.

The next step is to actually do it.

Take that very first step in the positive direction. Yes, the first step is often the hardest. Remember to take one step at a time.

As good ‘ol Buddha said, “A jug fills drop by drop.” Remember this when the going gets tough and be patient with yourself and the process you’re going through.

4. Celebrate.

Give yourself a pat on the back for facing your fears and celebrate your successes (no matter how big or small) along the way.

This will feed your positive momentum and will keep the good stuff coming your way!

The best part about following these four simple steps is that each time you choose to look beneath the surface and uncover what’s truly behind your fear, you step more and more into your personal power.

You become more aligned with who you are and what you want in life, and it gets easier to pursue your dreams with each step you take.

Are you ready to turn your fears into power? What’s your first or next step?

Photo by GS+

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